Messiness

I was cleaning up my room and the top of my desk. My FIL had finally given me the recipe for the stuffing he makes every Thanksgiving. It is a secret he has guarded for years. I printed it out and could not wait to make it. Except for the fact that I lost it. I have no idea where I put it. I didn't even have it saved in my computer anywhere. I had to very humbly email him and ask if he would resend it. He did and I have it in about 14 places now. This post actually has nothing to do with that or cleaning, but what I found when I was cleaning. Tricked you again.

I found a list of books that I have read. One of the big things with my friends awhile back was a list of books that really had an affect on you. It could be good or bad, it just had to mean something to you in some way. I never posted my list because I didn't have enough books to list. I just couldn't think of more than a handful that had a profound affect on my life either way. I'm sure there are many, but here are some of the ones I found.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. That is my go to book. If I need something to read, something for the pure joy of reading, something to fill my time, whatever the reason, that is my book. I have loved that book for many years. It is one of the few that I actually saw the movie first. The movie was incredible in itself, but the book is so much more. It is moving and telling and leaves so many emotions and thoughts and feelings raw about justice and injustice and love of all kinds. When I saw the movie, I didn't know there was a book. My mom used to sit and watch "old movies" and we had to watch, too. That was the time of one TV in the house. Mom always said since she paid the bills she controlled the TV. I hated that as a kid, love it as a mom. When I found out there was a book, I was all over it. It is my number one book on any favorites list. Read it if you haven't.

Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton is an awesome book. I tried to read Jurassic Park and couldn't. It bored me, until the movie came out. After I saw the movie, I decided to pick up the book again. I actually enjoyed the book that time. I decided I needed to read everything he had ever written, so I went to the library. Eaters of the Dead kept me up way past my bedtime, but it also kept me engaged and reading until I was done. Most books I can put down and finish in the morning. Not this one. It also wans't a huge book, so that helped. It is not what you think it is. It is about a foe that comes in darkness to fight Vikings. This foe eats the flesh of the dead warriors. It was done as The 13th Warrior, which was a good movie, but was in no way the book. It was different than his other books and I have already requested it from our library so I can reread it again.

Whispers was the first Dean Koontz book I ever read. It scared the crap out of me. It scared me so bad I reread it as soon as I was done with it. It started a long love affair with his books. I normally love them and have read most of them. There were a couple that I didn't think were up to par, but there's always a couple. I could not figure out the twist in this one until almost the end. I pride myself on being quite intelligent, and with as many books as I've read, I usually figure out the plot at least half way through. Not this one. And when I did, I almost slapped myself silly. I just thought, duh. That is also one that I like to reread from time to time. If I see it on the book shelf at the library, I grab it. That, to me, is one sign of a good book- rereadability.

Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene. When I was a youngster, this was the first one of the series that I read. I had to read every one of them. I even read all the Hardy Boys because of this book. My imagination led me on great mysteries while I read this book and all the subsequent ones. I love it so much, I have led one of my girls to them. Too old right now for the baby, but the big girl loves them. This is a fantastic series for female empowerment. If you have not read them, or your female children have not, I highly recommend it.

That's just a few out of the millions I'm sure I've read. A friend from high school that I reconnected with through Facebook sent me some books. I have only read one of them so far, but I am looking forward to some time to sit down with a little peace and quiet, and devour some written words. I am not one of those people that wants a Kindle for any reason. I don't want digital reading. I want to hold the pages in my hand and and feel the paper. I love the feel of a book in my hand. And if it's a great book, that's always a bonus. I like to turn off all the electronics, turn the lights down low, snuggle in bed, and travel the world and universe at my leisure. Any reading suggestions from the peanut gallery?